Two years after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake struck on January 1, 2024, a memorial ceremony in Ishikawa Prefecture on January 2, 2026, honored victims of the quake and the heavy rains that followed in September 2024. Attendees observed a moment of silence at 4:10 p.m., the exact time of the earthquake. Amid calls for sustainable reconstruction, population decline in affected areas remains a pressing challenge.
The Noto Peninsula Earthquake that struck on January 1, 2024, caused extensive damage to the Okunoto area in Ishikawa Prefecture. Two years later, on January 2, 2026, a memorial ceremony was held in Wajima to honor the victims of the earthquake and the torrential rains in September 2024. At the event, attendees observed a moment of silence at 4:10 p.m., the precise time the quake hit.
Shin Nakayama, 29, a Wajima resident who lost his older sister in the heavy rains, spoke as a representative of bereaved families. "My sister was like a ray of sunshine, always smiling and brightening the spirits of those around her, even at the evacuation center after the quake," he recalled. "Losing her robbed our family of its light, leaving us crushed by deep sorrow and despair."
Nakayama has since hosted a disaster FM radio program, finding solace through interactions with residents. "I believe my sister is listening from heaven," he said. "Being a radio host is my way of honoring her memory and repaying the community's kindness."
Governor Hiroshi Hase addressed the ceremony, stating, "We will keep close the feelings of all those affected. We will concentrate our wisdom with the help of central and local governments as well as the private sector and steadily advance efforts to revitalize the area with the people from Noto."
Attendees included former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who led the disaster response at the time, and former disaster management minister Jiro Akama.
In the four affected municipalities—Wajima, Suzu, Noto, and Anamizu—the population has dropped from 55,213 before the earthquake to 47,911 as of November 1, 2025, a decline of over 13%. The decrease among those aged 40 and younger is double that of those 50 and older. Some 370 businesses have closed or plan to close, and the number of elementary and junior high schools will fall from 35 to 26 by spring. The aging rate exceeds 50%, far above the national average of 29%. The earthquake and rains have accelerated depopulation and aging.
About 9,000 households, totaling 18,300 people, still live in temporary housing. Plans for 3,000 units of publicly funded permanent housing are in place, but as of November, construction had begun on only 5%. Securing stable housing is urgent to provide peace of mind and curb further outflow. Lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake, where 30,000 such units now face vacancies, suggest incorporating young migrants and adding daycare facilities.
The quake isolated 49 communities in five municipalities by car. A Yomiuri Shimbun survey indicates over 20,000 communities nationwide risk similar isolation in disasters. In the region, festivals like the Kiriko Festival have resumed, and support for Wajima-nuri lacquerware includes training young artisans and expanding overseas markets. Preserving traditional culture is seen as key to revitalization.
